Motorists who park their vehicles in Hoylake might soon have to pay for on-street parking in proposals being put forward by Wirral Council.
In an attempt to mitigate funding cuts from central Government, Wirral Council is considering charging for parking at various locations across the borough including local country parks and key villages including Heswall, Liscard, Moreton, West Kirby and Hoylake.
The roads and car parks in Hoylake that will incur a charge for parking are:
- Market Street
- Station Road
- Albert Road
- Charles Road car park
- Carr Lane car park
As much of Market Street is double-yellows, it would seem that the parking bays outside The Row, St Luke’s Church and the shops up toward King’s Gap would incur the charges. Wirral Council estimates that charging for parking within Hoylake will raise about £40,000 each year. It is not clear if this figure includes the costs of monitoring the parking.
How much it will cost per hour or per day to park in Hoylake is not clear. Wirral Council are proposing a £4 charge to park at local country parks such as Arrowe Park and Royden Park.
It does not appear that a charge for parking at Meols station is being proposed – is that car park the responsibility of Wirral Council?
A good idea?
Do you think that charging for parking in Hoylake and elsewhere within Wirral is a fair way of raising revenue for the local council?
What impact will this have on local shops, businesses, commuters and residents in Hoylake?
Will motorists who drive to and park at Hoylake station attempt to avoid the fees by parking on other local side roads?
Might more people walk or cycle to Hoylake or Manor Road stations and leave their cars at home?
Feel free to have your say in the comments below.
If you get charged to park at train station car park that means manor road will be full of people parking to use the train station at Hoylake and manor road . The residents will not be able to park outside there own property
Hi Karen, its the car park in from of the station opposite the Royal Mail depot.
I think this will be a disaster for Hoylake. If it encourages people onto public transport, they will go to Liverpool.
It will stop people from wanting to nip in on their way through, instead they will buy where they can pull in elsewhere.
The only advantage Hoylake has is that other towns and cities charge.
People Park in the roads near Manor Road Station already. Parking is a problem at times in the village now and this will just send people to the Supermarkets etc and leave the local shops struggling to exist.
This applies to West Kirby as well and for me it appears to be a short term financial gain for a longer term financial loss when the shops and businesses are forced to close.
Just limit staying time,shops need the business and they are rate payers who struggle to make a living.This is not a fair way to raise revenue
We have put Petition Forms in most of the shops in Hoylake. Please sign up before the 1st of February.
The shops are struggling against Online shopping and large supermarkets as it is , this will be the end.
Due to many houses in Hoylake without garage or off street parking the roads are already congested this will make it impossible for RESIDENTS and passers by will not stop and shop or visit Hoylake..
I have signed Jackie. This is a ridiculous idea and will be the death of Hoylake. How much are the machines to cost and the people to check parkers are using them. All the side streets are going to be absolutely full and then where do residents park their cars? Do these people who think up these ludicrous ideas think things through properly? It would appear not!
They don`t care. It is simply I`m all right Jack. Expenses incurred by councillors are claimed from their employers – The General Public ie we pay twice. As for the shops, fewer customers equals lower revenue, equals lower profits. Losses will be followed by closures. If this goes ahead Hoylake will be a shuttered village and could be doomed to dereliction quite quickly. Examples abound throughout Birkenhead and Liverpool. Lynda – you are right – I shall be surprised if our councillors will listen to reason. As an ex Hoylake boy I wish you well.
PG Bell
I was born here and have lived here all my life and I love Hoylake, this breaks my heart to see my home so abused like this. I do not want my Town to die. :’) PG Bell
Who are the people making these decisions? This plan will just kill off business from outside the area which Hoylake needs. It’s a shame we can’t get the money back that’s already been spent on the pie in the sky golf resort. That figure would make this plan pale into insignificance.
This would further depress the market traders business in Hoylake and the Station owned car parks would be abused causing Merseyrail to enforce usage to commuters. Many disabled and elderly people park in Hoylake and they are often those least able to afford parking. I would rather the Council found other means to raise income.
All side roads will be full of cars ,people who live there won’t be able to park outside there own houses
Also shops are struggling for shoppers .,everyone will be going to Morrison’s.. Say no to parking charges
the carr lane car park is the one in front of the station opposite the Royal Mail Depot, Merseyrail own the other car park.
This will be a disaster for small businesses in the area (in fact all areas this ridiculous idea is planned for). People will not shop here if they have to pay, why would they? They will just use the large supermarkets or shop on-line. Who is going to just stop for a coffee, have a meal, buy something on impulse as they are passing by if they have to pay? Presumably people will have to be employed (i.e. paid) to enforce/monitor and what about people living locally? Will there be a permit scheme and again, who will be dealing the admin/enforcement of this, presumably not volunteers? Even if shops manage to eek out a living from people who live locally (unlikely) then staff will presumably have to park or will there be designated areas for these people? An absolutely ill conceived idea that hasn’t been thought through at all and I am surprised it wasn’t thrown out at the meeting last night
Hoylake is struggling to attract more shoppers to use the existing facilities. Having to pay to park will surely kill as we know it. In fact more parking (free of course) is what will regenerate Hoylake.
Peter Bond
Whilst I appreciate the Council have to make savings I think this proposal will lead to empty shops (already happening ) so lack of income for the council . Also residents unable to park will be vocal and of course we all have a vote. The estimated £40k income is unrealistic against the knock on effects I live in Alderley Road so being able to park outside your house is not a given.
AS for the proposed golf course complex this is a dream and I suspect totally unrealistic. The finances will need very close scruinty
Can’t think of worse way to ruin business in the local towns. It’s bad enough now to park in Hoylake and nearly impossible in West Kirby and Heswall.
The councillors ready to implement decisions have no experience in running a business,,they are short sighted and will destroy our local shops,who struggle to make a living. They will close our lovely local shops by their inability to make the right decisions on our behalf.
Hoylake Vision Community Planning Forum have produced a letter of objection which can be read on the website http://www.hoylakevision.org.uk
Excellent letter!
People have made excellent comments on the harmful impact of the proposed parking charges. As others have said, Hoylake vision sent a great letter to the Labour leader, Cllr Mr Davies. It is worth reading. Having looked at the Council’s web site, found and signed a complaint form, and searched hard, I have seen nothing from the Council on any credible economic analysis of the economic harm and congestion for residents that such charges would bring, or the expected revenue – which would need to be reduced by avoidance, warden enforcement, collection, and, possibly repairs.
In Windsor On. we have a problem with lack of parking near the university, so local residents are issued parking permits for there cars,
these permits are free .Any cars without permit is ticketed or towed, this provides homeowners parking.
We have had parking meters in downtown for years, and it is like a ghost town, all business eventually moved out of area.